Gosforth sinkhole: 20ft crater swallows residential street in Newcastle

The huge hole opened up to reveal old mine workings

A 20ft sinkhole has opened up and swallowed part of a residential street in Newcastle upon Tyne.

The crater appeared in Gosforth's Craster Square without warning andexposed the town's old mine workings, according to reports.

No injuries were reported, but it did leave a car trapped on its driveway, on the other side of the crevice.

There is currently no access to the street while officials make it safe.

Leah O’Malley, 20, told the Newcastle Chronicle: “When I came out of my flat this morning, the ground was fine but there was a lady here who was worried about the state of the ground.

“I went back inside and came back out later to find that the huge hole had appeared. I was absolutely shocked.

“A fire engine and police officers turned up and this lady was shaking. She said she was worried about falling into the sinkhole and it was a shock to find the ground collapsed.

“We are all wondering why this has happened.”

But other residents saw the funny side of the phenomenon.

Daniel Stewart, 25, who lives on the street, told the newspaper: “I was at work - you never expect to hear about something like this in your own street.

“I was hoping it might bring my rent down!”